THE SPREAD of the Gospel in the BOOK of ACTS WELCOME to FELLOWSHIP PRAYER REQUESTS PRAYER TEAM

WITNESSES THE SPREAD OF THE gospel IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WELCOME TO FELLOWSHIP PRAYER REQUESTS PRAYER TEAM

WITNESSES THE SPREAD OF THE gospel IN THE BOOK OF ACTS Questions for WITNESSES Why do we come to church (if you do)? Regular attender or regular misser? How is the truth communicated best? Are you readyActs to receive 17 and evaluate? In the second century BC, the Romans built a highway called the via Egnatia from Dyrrachium on the Adriatic Sea to Byzantium (now called Constantinople) near the Black Sea, a distance of almost 700 miles. Nearly 20 feet wide and paid with hand laid stone slabs, it carried Roman troops to battle, and merchandise everywhere.

Chuck Swindoll PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY c. AD 49 – 52 (Ac 15:3 9 –18:22)

THRACE Black Sea C E D O N N D P O N T US M A I A A Philippi Byzantium I A Amphipolis Neapolis N Thessalonica Y Samothrace Nicaea H A Berea Apollonia T t I I A Gulf on I sp Prusa B C lle T He O A Troas A Dorylaeum D e MYSIA g e L A a Thyatira A n I P A

A C H A I G Pisidian P A S ASIA

e G a Y Antioch A Athens Ephesus . Corinth R C s Iconium t H Cilician M Saronic Lystra Cenchreae P Gates Derbe I A s Gulf Sila u C nd s l a I Pau n L Tarsus a I m C Seleucia A Rhodes Pieria Antioch S Y as ab R CRETE S arn k U B ar . R d M A R I P an C Y I s e A M C t e I n d o i N t r e E r r O a Sidon O n e a n S e a H Damascus Tyre P

Caesarea I A Route of the Egnatian Way 0 100 km. PALESTINE A B R 0 100 miles Jerusalem A PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY c. AD 49 – 52 (Ac 15:3 9 –18:22)

A C H A I G Pisidian P A S ASIA

Caesarea I A Route of the Egnatian Way 0 100 km. PALESTINE A B R 0 100 miles Jerusalem A THESSOLANICA THESSOLANICA PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEYAND HIS c. AD 49 – 52 (Ac 15:3 9 –18:22) MISSIONARY BAND

Aristarchus THRACE Black Sea A C E D O N I Epaphroditus N D P O N T US SecundusM A A Philippi Byzantium I A Amphipolis Neapolis N Thessalonica Y Samothrace Nicaea H A Berea Apollonia T t I I A Gulf on I sp Prusa B C lle T Sopater He Luke O A Troas A Dorylaeum D e MYSIA g e L A a Thyatira A n I P A

A C H A I G Pisidian P A S ASIA

e G a Y Antioch A Athens Ephesus . Corinth R C s Iconium t H Timothy Cilician M Saronic Lystra Cenchreae P Gates Derbe I A s Gulf d Sila Paulu C n s l a I Pau n L Tarsus a I Silasm C Seleucia A Rhodes Pieria Antioch S Y as ab R CRETE S arn k U B ar . R d M A R I P an C Y I s e A M C t e I n d o i N t r e E r r O a Sidon O n e a n S e a H Damascus Tyre P

Caesarea I A Route of the Egnatian Way 0 100 km. PALESTINE A B R 0 100 miles Jerusalem A PAUL’S MISSIONARY BAND Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. Acts 20:2-4 MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God- fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women. Acts 17:1-9 (NLT ) MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.” Acts 17:1-9 (NLT ) MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them. Acts 17:1-9 (NLT ) MINISTRY IN BEREA That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10-15 (NLT ) MINISTRY IN BEREA But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him. Acts 17:10-15 (NLT ) MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9 THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, 6 THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY The foundation of ministry is explaining Scripture and pointing to Jesus.

Acts 17:1-3 PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suﬀer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Acts 17:1-3 The reference to three sabbath days does not mean the missionary band stayed only three weeks in Thessalonica. Paul carry on the work with a Jewish emphasis for three Sabbaths and then turned to Gentiles and minister to them for some weeks after that. This was the situation for three reasons: (1) the Philippian church sent money to Paul at least twice during visit (Phil. 4:15-16), implying a longer lapse of time than three weeks. (2) In addition, Paul supported himself by manual labor (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-10). This may indicate that considerable time lapse before the aid from Philippi arrived. (3) Most of the converts at Thessalonica were not from the synagogue but were Gentiles steeped in idolatry (1 Thess. 1:9). Stanley D. Toussaint • Paul “reasoned” allowing them to ask questions. • Paul “explained” opening their minds and hearts. • Paul “proved” answering their objections. • Paul “proclaimed” with clear authority. • The people were “persuaded” it was true. • The people “joined” the community.

Ajith Fernando reasoned, disputed, argued (διαλέγομαι) The word διελέξατο is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” and some argue that Paul is making a philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. In reality Paul is doing what any qualiﬁed member of a synagogue might do. He is presenting his understanding of the scripture. reasoned, disputed, argued (διανοίγω) The word is used concretely to mean opening something by dividing it. It means to open thoroughly what had been closed. In a metaphorical sense it means to open the mind of someone, i.e. to cause them to understand something. It often means deep understanding at one's soul level. explaining, proving, demonstrating (παρατίθημι) The word literally means “to place beside.” It is used of setting food on a table. From this the meaning is derived of setting forth an argument in front of someone to explain an idea. It can also mean to entrusting something to someone, committing it to their care. But herein is the Bible greatly wronged. It nowhere lays claim to be regarded as the Word, the Way, the Truth. The Bible leads us to Jesus, the inexhaustible, the ever-unfolding Revelation of God. It is Christ "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," not the Bible, save as leading to Him.

George MacDonald RESPONSE TO MINISTRY The goal of ministry is all kinds of people responding to the gospel.

Acts 17:4 RESPONSE TO MINISTRY Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. Acts 17:4 Acts continually points out the signiﬁcant role that women play the churches growth (1:14; 5:14; 8:3, 12; 12:12; 16:15, 40; 17:12, 34; 18:2, 18, 26; 21:9). David Garland OPPOSITION TO MINISTRY The reality of ministry is that opposition will be unreal and unreasonable

Acts 17:5-9 OPPOSITION TO MINISTRY But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. Acts 17:5-9 When Ramsay first went to Asia Minor, many of the cities mentioned in the Book of Acts had no definite location. Later in life he concluded: '"Further study … showed that the book could bear the most minute scrutiny as an authority for the facts of the Aegean world, and that it was written with such judgment, skill, art and perception of truth as to be a model of historical statement" (The Bearing of Recent Discovery, p. 85). On page 89 of the same book, Ramsay accounted, "You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s".

Sir William Ramsay city official, city ruler (πολιτάρχης) Louw and Nida 37.93 define πολιτάρχης (politarchēs) as “a public official responsible for administrative matters within a town or city and a member of the ruling council of such a political unit—‘city official.’” This is the exact term discovered by archaeologists to describe the five city officials in Thessolanica. There had been trouble in Rome in connection with the Jews for some time. The events in Thessalonica may have occurred in the spring of A.D. 50, shortly after Claudius expelled Jews from Rome (in 49) following riots associated with Jews and Christians. The authorities would not have wanted a repetition of such problems, the Jewish opponents would have exploited that fact.

Ajith Fernando BLOCKED BY SATAN But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every eﬀort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 In sum, the scene in Thessalonica shows how the arrival of the gospel continued to produce mixed results and reactions. We also know that the church held strong in the face of such pressure, as Paul’s later letters to the church there show. Darrell Bock EVALUATION OF MINISTRY The best engagement with ministry is eager reception and careful examination.

Acts 17:10-15 EVALUATION OF MINISTRY As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. Acts 17:10-12 Cicero, in his fervent speech against Piso, describes a similar situation when a Roman governor (Piso) was so unpopular that he found it wise to slip into Thessalonica by night and then to withdraw from the storm of complaints, which his presence brought about. Cicero goes on to describe how Piso was so disturbed by the tumult caused by the crowd that he ﬂed as well to Berea, which he says is “oﬀ the beaten track”(oppidum devium) Cicero (In Pis. 36:89).

Cicero more noble character (εὐγενής) The context supports the meaning of being “more willing to learn” although it is most often used of well- born or high class people. Louw and Nida and BDAG both use the term “open-minded” here. The point is that they were more receptive to Paul’s message. They did receive the message, but only after they carefully and critically examined (ἀνακρίνω) it. The Christian life is an examined life, which employs the Scripture like an X-ray to ascertain the nature of religious truth, life, and once heart.

Darrell Bock THE PATTERN EMERGES But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. Acts 17:13-15 The account serves to show that not all locales are as contentious as Philippi and Thessalonica.

Darrell Bock LESSONS FOR WITNESSES

The ministry of witnesses focuses on using the scripture to declare the Savior and is examined and responded to by some while being rejected and opposed by others. Lessons for WITNESSES We gather to allow the Bible to point us to Jesus. There is a lot involved in teaching the word. We do our best and leave the response up to God. Some will receive and some will oppose. The most noble response is to receive and evaluate.